February Outfits: Colorful Combo 2 - Fairytale Moto Chic

I’ve decided to include burgundy in my Valentine’s month colors because it is still winter and not everyone likes a true pink or a true red. Burgundy is a beautiful way to incorporate a color with a deep, dark reddish hue without making the outfit too loud. This outfit was inspired by the scarf which included all of the colors.

I guess I would call this outfit Fairytale Moto Chic. Ha, ha. Hey, I’m a writer so why not name my outfits. Maybe I should make that a thing. If Pantone can name colors, why shouldn’t I be able to name my outfits?

As I said, for this look I started with the scarf. I knew I wanted to make an outfit with burgundy as a main color, and when I saw this scarf then it was easier to pick out the rest of the outfit

My next choice was the tulle skirt. This is where the fairytale vibe comes in. Tulle is the fabric of princesses, ball gowns, and all things enchanted. This skirt was thrift find a few years ago after the tulle trend hit the runways. We still see versions of tulle, but now they seem much more streamlined. This Haute Monde skirt is pretty poofy, but I still like it, and it comes with a liner that is the same color and stops at the knee.

After the skirt came the top. This was thrifted this past year. Just like embroidery, I am a sucker for eyelet, so the yoke and sleeves grabbed my attention right away. This is St. John’s Bay brand. The body of the top is jersey knit so a comfortable tee type material.

The scarf having yellow in it made me pause for a minute, but then I thought why not. Even though we don’t really think of yellow as a Valentine’s day color it still makes for an interesting outfit. This cropped style Ophelia Roe bomber jacket was a Meijer clearance purchase a few seasons ago. I thought it was the perfect topper.

My accessories included a layered bead necklace, a bracelet, The Sak bag from my bestie, and my Journee boots which I bought from Kohl’s just before Christmas this past year.

The beauty of wearing a larger scarf like this is if you decide to take off the jacket you can use the scarf as a shawl.

What did you think of this outfit? Do you own a tulle skirt? I never thought I would own one, but when I saw various women styling them I thought, why not give it a try. That is one of the beauties of thrifting. You can try different things and you spend a fraction of the price. If it doesn’t work out or you decide it just isn’t you, you donate it back to the thrift shop for someone else to try.

No shopping links again this week. The affiliate platform that I had been using is closing down and rather than continuin to use them until they do I decided to just look for something different. Hopefully, I can find something soon.

Have a great week!

February Outfits: Colorful Combo 1 - Pink, Red and Salmon

Hi everyone! I am making an attempt to get back in the saddle as they say, or in my case, get back to posting on my blog. January was a difficult month, as I lost my mom on Christmas Day, traveling for the funeral and then ending up with the flu. I wanted to take the month off as a way to lean in to grieving, but I ended up leaning in to trying to recover from illness and nurse my spouse back to health. Yikes! Anyway, I am going to give it a go for February and we’ll see how things develop.

I decided to focus my attention on the month of hearts including both Valentine’s Day and The American Heart Association’s Heart Awareness month. This month I will be featuring outfits with the colors of “love”: pink, red, burgundy, purple, white and everything in between. I decided to do a few different color combinations. I hope you enjoy these outfits.

I apologize that these pictures are so grainy. I need a new phone, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. Also, my pants are very wrinkled. I took these yesterday and just wasn’t feeling like I had very much energy. Between grief, Seasonal Affective Disorder and my ongoing health issues, I didn’t feel like ironing. Ha, ha.

Let’s look at how I put this look together. The first piece I chose was this fun, bubblegum pink, pullover sweater. This is a thrifted piece, and looked to have a tag, but no longer has one. It is a heavier piece and doesn’t have a lot of stretch, so if I gain too much weight, or when the temperature warms up I won’t be wearing it. However, I love the color, the open weave and the cuffed sleeves and bottom.

Just for a bit of contrast I added the white button down shirt underneath. I like the pop of white and feel like it ties in well with the polka dots on the pants. This is a thrifted, men’s shirt; a brand called At Collins. I will try to show it to you in the spring as a shacket. It has some beautiful white embroidery on it, but when I put it on for this post, I realized it is itchy, so it will probably be worn most over another shirt. :)

After I chose the pullover I decided to go with the red vest. I am becoming more comfortable with these bright color combinations and they are a definite dopamine boost in these drab winter months. This is another second hand piece and is reversible, so all red (with the black stretch) on one side and then this floral pattern on the other side. This was another piece without a tag, as many reversible pieces are.

I was going to just grab a pair of jeans, but then I thought, why not try another bright color, so I reached for these thrifted Gloria Vanderbilt pants that I have had for a number of years. I had worn these a while back so they were folded on a shelf waiting for another wear. Do you launder your pants every time you wear them, or do you wear them a few times before washing? I always get at least two or three wears out of a pair of pants as long as they haven’t gotten spilled on and don’t smell.

The outfit has a lot going on with the multiple layers and the print on the vest, but I did add a couple of pieces of jewelry. My charm necklace is old, but still a fave when I want something red, and my bracelet was a more recent thrift find.

I went with basic black for my shoes and bag. Since it is still winter, and there is a little black in the vest I thought it would be a good choice. My bag has been on the blog before. It was gifted to me a few years ago for Christmas, and is a brand called Aidebaum. My combat boots are Seven Dials and were purchased a number of years ago. You can tell up close they are getting a little worn. Ha, ha.

What do you think of this outfit? Do you like to wear bright colors or you more of a fan of muted tones? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so leave me a comment or two below, or on Facebook. I also post regularly on Instagram, so if you have an account please follow.

No shopping links today. Have a great Tuesday evening!

Outfit Inspiration: Valentine's Day Inspo from Pinterest

Today I am showing you an outfit that was inspired from a Pinterest pin. I have a number of Pinterest boards and with this being the month of Heart Health Awareness and Valentine’s Day I thought I would create a new board and pin outfits that contain the color red. This is the pin that inspired today’s outfit.

Red on red is definitely a bold choice, but so is any bright color combo. I knew I wanted to do this when I rediscovered this red coat out on our back porch covered with a plastic garbage bag to keep it clean. I hang a few of our winter things out there when we are off season. How could I have forgotten this beauty? Truth be told it is a tad tight around the middle since I have put on a few pounds, but that doesn’t mean I need to get rid of it.

This lighter weight, thrifted jacket works well for those not super cold days. It is Worthington brand. I love the textured fabric and the buttons on the back. My pictures do not do it justice.

Style Tip: If you are a thrift shopper always check out the coats and jackets. You never know what beautiful piece you will find, especially in the off seasons. If you don’t do a lot of thrifting, buy coats at the end of the season. This is when you will find the best sales, and if you shop stores like Kohl’s or JCPenney you might get an additional percent off with coupons.

My bright red mock turtleneck sweater was just thrifted; I didn’t even wash it yet. When I decided to do this outfit, I knew it would be a perfect partner for the coat. This is A New Day brand.

My jeans were also thrifted and are Jennifer Lopez brand. I know Kohl’s used to sell her clothing, but they stopped carrying her line in 2020. These are slightly distressed skinnies and comfortably stretchy, making them perfect for boots.

I found these leather, Clarks boots at the same thrift store as the red sweater. How awesome is that? I have really been trying to find a least a couple of pairs of leather boots at thrift stores. They are so expensive to buy full price, even though they do last almost forever. When I saw these I was so excited they were in my size. They had a little bit of scuffing, but my hubby has a shoe polish kit and was able to shine them up.

Style Tip: Whether you are a pro second hand store shopper or and avid fan of regular retail, it is always helpful to make a list. Keeping a running list of things you are regularly looking for or in need of is good planning and will help you save money in the long run and keep you from overbuying.

My bag was from Amazon and a gift.

Style Tip: I think most of us know we don’t have to match our bag to our shoes anymore, but what about matching our bag to our clothes? Isn’t that too much matching? You tell me. I think anything goes, and I am loving this monochrome look on the top. Plus the little bits of gold on the bag goes perfectly with my gold jewelry.

As is the outfit is great, but what if you want just a little bit of extra color or warmth around you neck by adding a scarf? Why not? I chose my Southwest oblong scarf that I have had for a number of years. It does a great job of pulling it all together with the reds, browns and blues of my outfit.

What do you think of this outfit? Does this look like a good Valentine’s outfit? Would you wear something like this? What would you do differently to make it your own? I love to hear what you think. Those of you who take time to comment always give me things to think about as well.

A few shopping links for you to peruse. We are coming to the end of boot and coat season, at least in the retail world. Ha, ha. Have a great week.

Having Fun with Layers - Casual Valentine's Day Look - Celebrating 5 Years

Here I am again, celebrating another year of Faith and Fashion blogging. When I started this little hobby back in 2016, I had no idea how my sense of style would change and evolve. I also never realized how doing this 2 or three times a week every week for the last five years would help my ability to write. Starting this blog, in part to help me write regularly, has helped me to become a better writer. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. I am no where near perfect, but I do have more confidence, not only as a writer, but as a woman who knows something about fashion. As I have done in recent years I wanted to have a giveaway, so be sure to read all the way to the end, so you know what the drawing is for and how to enter. This year there will be two winners!

I decided to spend a few weeks talking about layering. I realize we are all looking forward to spring, but we are in the middle of the deep freeze here in the mid-west and I really don’t want to be trying to take pictures of light weight, flowy spring outfits. Well, I really would rather be doing that, but I would have to take everything to Florida to take pictures. Ha, ha. No chance of that happening right now. Instead, what I am going to do, is show you a few spring pieces that I have doctored up for the cold weather, and that means layering.

I love layers. I love being able to wear multiple pieces from my closet all at the same time and it has a very practical purpose. Layers keep me warm. I do understand that many women are menopausal and that means hot flashes, so layers are not as practical, but what I hope to do is show you layers that are easy enough to take off when those heat waves blow through.

Today’s outfit revolves around a light weight pair of floral pants that I recently purchased at Kohl’s.

When I saw these cute twill joggers on the rack at Kohl’s I thought, “I’m going to buy myself something that is new for the season.” Typically I wait until the end of the season to purchase new pieces and then wear them for the remaining weeks of the season, or put them away until next year, but these were on sale and I had a good coupon. I love the floral print and the light weight fabric, which makes them great for spring and summer. These are Sonoma brand.

If you are anxious to wear your new spring finds, but it is still cold, I would start with an under layers. I chose a pair of black tights and a black tank top.

Most under layers will not add a lot of extra bulk, but they will add warmth. If you are suffering with hot flashes, don’t add the extra under layers. You will be warm enough with the normal pieces.

I wanted to draw on both the dark, almost burgundy pinks and the light pinks in the flowers on the pants, so I chose a light weight thrifted SO sweatshirt. Layers do not have to add bulk, as I said before. This sweatshirt is a lighter weight fleece, making it much easier to wear something over the top.

For my top piece I chose a light pink, faux leather, Christopher and Banks moto jacket. The light pastel pink certainly makes me think of spring with all of its pretty flowers and of course Easter outfits and colored eggs.

I added a few simple details like my fringe pendant necklace, which actually has some olive colored beads; a couple of beaded bracelets, my blush colored, thrifted New York and Co bag and my Spirit burgundy ankle boots.

I noticed after the fact that my shoes were all scuffed and covered with dust and cat hair. I’m sorry for the poor photos as well. My glasses were picking up the glare from the windows. I wasn’t going to go outside, as it is so cold and I was trying to get the best light, but didn’t take the glare into account. The joys of being an amateur photographer. Ha. ha. My daughter has been so busy and I haven’t want to add more work to her already full plate. That’s okay, because this is real life.

I hope you enjoyed this post on layering fun. Think about the spring pieces in your closet and how you could make them wearable in the cold temperatures by adding layers. What could you wear?

I’m including a few shopping links to get you thinking about spring. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Have fun shopping, and don’t forget about the giveaway. Just follow the directions and you will be entered to win one of two gift cards. Entries for the give away will close on Friday February 12th, at midnight. I will announce the winners of the give away on Tuesday February 16th.

Seeing Red - Layering Light - Monochrome Pink Outfit

Seeing as it is the beginning of February, I thought it would be fun to make this whole month revolve around the color red, or some derivative thereof in keeping with a Valentines theme. Today’s outfit is the last in my Layering Light series, but I felt it fit into this month’s theme, because pink is just a lighter shade of red. I remember in grade school, learning how to make pink by mixing red paint with white paint. Even though this outfit is mainly pink, just think of it as a shade a red with white mixed in.

I got these dark pink Sonoma corduroy jeans at Kohl’s this past fall. They are soft and stretchy, and the narrow wale corduroy is extra warm in the chilly winter weather.

This light pink moto jacket is a clearance buy from Christopher and Banks. Can you have too many moto jackets? Of course not! Ha, ha.

This light pink Gap turtleneck was a thrift find. I like that it is lighter weight, because that makes it easy to layer under other pieces. The ribbed neck is also soft and comfortable, with no itchiness or irritation. Different fabrics affect my skin in different ways. I cannot wear wool and usually try to stay away from fabrics that are stiff and scratchy.

You can also see in the above picture, I added a pink scarf which subtly ties in to the darker color of the pants. The coppery metallic ring necklace and the thrifted copper bag were a way to add a touch of earthy color to the outfit.

These SO block heeled blush boots were the perfect choice to finish off the outfit.

This outfit would be a great date night look to wear with your significant other for Valentine’s Day. My husband is not a huge fan of pink, so I might wear this out with friends and choose something else for the romantic holiday.

Would you wear all pink? Do you own a pair of corduroy’s? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

This month I will be having another give away since this is my bloggiversary month, so keep a look out for that.

More Ideas for Valentine's Day

I thought I would put together a collection of looks from the last two years that would work for a Valentine's Day date either with your significant other or with your friends. 

I love the multiple textures involved in this outfit from the patent leather heels and the embellishments on the leggings, to the pleated skirt and fringe on the woven belt. The floral velvet top is a perfect piece for a romantic candle light dinner. See the original post here. 

I love the richness of the burgundy of this dress and it's perfect for those of you who don't like a bold crisp red or a light whimsical pink for your Valentine's Day color of choice. Since the dress has short flutter sleeves I topped it with a lacy romantic hoodie. See the original post here. 

This was one of my earlier posts. My daughter who takes my pics is probably cringing right now. I think it is neat to see how far we have come, both her and I! Anything leopard can be dressed up to look romantic. There is something special about this animal print and I think pairing it with this light pink top was a great way to showcase the skirt and add an additional feminine touch. See the original post here. 

For a more casual look choose black for your base pieces, but add a pop of berry, or red to really make the outfit Valentine's Day perfect. I like this melding of colorful feminine with edgy biker chic. See this original post here. 

This outfit uses the same pink top seen in the picture worn with the leopard print skirt. My favorite piece in this outfit is the velvet blazer. It is such a cozy, lux piece and the color is perfect for a Valentine's night out. The tote bag adds another dimension of fun and whimsy to the entire look. Original post here. 

This extra casual look would be great for a quick bite to eat and then a comfortable night at home watching a movie. Just kick off the heels and put on the fuzzy socks. Or skip the socks so your hubby can massage your feet while you cuddle on the couch. See the original post here. 

How do you pick out an outfit for a special occasion like Valentine's Day? Do you stick to the traditional colors of the holiday or do you reach for your usual go to look? This year, if you are doing something special, try picking out an outfit that wouldn't be your norm. Layer a dress  over jeans, add a moto jacket over a more dressy outfit, add a bright red hand bag or a pop of pink to a more monochrome look. There are all sorts of ways to up your styling game using what you already have. 

Have a great Valentine's Day everyone, whether you are with your hubby, significant other, kids or girlfriends. Make it an occasion to get dressed up for. 

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style. 

A Fun Casual Valentine's Look

I am going to take a break from my series on Working Undercover, to post a couple of Valentine's looks this week and next. After that I am going to start the Pantone Spring 2018 series. Don't worry, I will get back to more posts on hiding our "flaws" at a later date.  

Today's outfit revolves around a summer dress by Vera Wang. I got this fun watercolor print from Kohl's a few summer's ago and thought my Florida trip in December would be the perfect place to wear it. Unfortunately, the temps were not conducive to wearing it as a dress, so I chose to style it as a longer tunic over a pair of skinny jeans.  Take a look. 

I added a light pink tee to wear underneath for extra warmth. It was the perfect combination and went with the light pink in the dress. In addition I threw on the SO flats. I am not as much a sandal type of girl due to my vein issues (yes varicose veins can cover the feet too). So I like to wear ballet flats or sneakers in the warmer months. 

I have been intrigued by Vera Wang's Simply Vera, line of clothing at Kohl's since I first became acquainted with it a number of years ago. I love that she chooses patterns and colors that are out of the ordinary. I am not a big fan of everything she puts out on the run way, but she does have many cute pieces that are available to the average shopper. Many of her pieces have unique and interesting details. The prices aren't too bad and even better when you can score something off the clearance rack. 

I added the distressed cropped jean jacket as another layer. I kid you not, it was only about 50 degrees. so I not only added the cropped jean jacket, but before we left to go play mini golf, I also added a wind breaker. Ha. ha. 

Here are a few silly pictures of me being cold. 

In addition to the jean jacket I decided to wear the dress over my Rock and Republic jeans. 

I think this outfit would work well for a casual Valentine's date. The dress is flirty and feminine, but I made it my own, by adding the edginess of denim. I also wore minimal jewelry to let the dress take center stage. 

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear something like this? Do you like Vera Wang's line of fashion? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. 

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Check back on Thursday for the start of a new monthly column. I think you will enjoy it. 

Below are a few links to a few other Vera Wang pieces. This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through a link in my post, I might get a little commission. As usual all opinions are my own. 

Have a great day!

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Photo credit Rebecca Trumbull.

Monday linking up with Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb. Tuesday linking up with Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish. Friday linking up with Jo-Lynne of Jo-Lynne Shane.